Rugby: Deans' World Cup strategy 'brainless' - Campese

Former Wallabies player David Campese. Photo / Getty Images

Outspoken former Wallabies great David Campese has ripped into national coach Robbie Deans, branding the New Zealander's World Cup tactics "brainless" and calling for Ewen McKenzie to replace him.

Campese, highly critical of Wallaby No 10 Quade Cooper's tactics during last month's World Cup, claimed Deans had got off lightly after Australia's semifinal loss to the All Blacks.

"I can't believe Deans hasn't been asked to explain what happened to our backline," said Campese. "His backline [selections] were disgusting. The Irish game was just brainless. We can't even pass the ball. Digby Ioane gets the ball once and almost scores and then doesn't see it for 80 minutes."

Deans' selections came under fire from other ex-Wallaby greats including Nick Farr-Jones and Mark Ella.

Amid a string of contentious calls, he copped most flak for playing the inexperienced Pat McCabe at inside centre, outside besieged playmaker Cooper, instead of choosing the more creative Berrick Barnes or Cooper's Reds teammate Anthony Faingaa.

His decision not to select a specialist back-up No 7 to David Pocock also left the Wallabies exposed for their upset loss to Ireland when the influential ball scavenger succumbed to a back injury.

A free-spirited winger who scored 315 points for the Wallabies, Campese said James O'Connor wanted to move close to the action and play No 10.

"Doesn't anybody realise we're not getting the ball out to the wingers?" said Campese. "We had guys in the centres in the World Cup who couldn't even pass the ball and two finishers who never got the ball."

Campese said Deans' position was safe because he was appointed by ARU chief executive John O'Neill.

"He's got the worst record of any Australian coach yet he's still there.

"He shouldn't be there. He was with the Kiwis in 2003 and the Wallabies in 2010 and he got nowhere both times. What's wrong with McKenzie? He's an Australian, he's been through the system, he's been overseas."

Campese said he hoped Cooper had learned from the difficult time he endured during the World Cup when he was heckled mercilessly by local crowds.

"You don't go to New Zealand and say, 'Keep on booing me, I love it,' you just incite people."

- AAP